Recording apparatus for use with a taximeter

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to be used with a taximeter for recording in a continuous form the working of a taxicab, which comprises a transmitter means operable to transmit electrical signals in response to the working and actuation of the taximeter and a signal receiving and recording means operable, upon its receipt of said signals, to actuate a recording device which converts the electrical signals received thereby to records made onto a strip of a continuous form, said strip being mountable onto a calculator for counting up various data of the working of taxicab.

United States Patent 1 1 Sugimura June 26, 1973 1 RECORDING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A TAXIMETER [75] Inventor: Sadaji Sugimura, Shimada, Japan [73] Assignee: Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 91,049

[52] U.S. Cl. 346/33 R, 235/30 R, 346/50 [51] Int. Cl. G071) 13/00 [58] Field of Search 235/30 R, 30 A, 92 A,

235/92 EA, 92 TC; 346/50, 79, 97, 33 M, 33 R, 14 MR; 340/188, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,344,986 10/1967 Stasenko et a1 235/94 R 3,154,672 10/1964 Larkin 235/92 3,271,777 9/1966 Davis 346/74 3,453,650 7/1969 Amano et a1. 346/79 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,006,979 10/1965 Great Britain 235/30 R Primary Examiner-Joseph W. l-lartary Attorney-McGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus to be used with a taximeter for recording in a continuous form the working of a taxicab, which comprises a transmitter means operable to transmit electrical signals in response to the working and actuation of the taximeter and a signal receiving and recording means operable, upon its receipt of said signals, to actuate a recording device which converts the electrical signals received thereby to records made onto a strip of a continuous form, said strip being mountable onto a calculator for counting up various data of the working of taxicab.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented June 26, 1973 3,742,514

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ,snml SUGIMURA m; rTm A ORNEIS Patented June 26, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

FIG-.5

X X I X @ADGJ INVENTOR SADM'I SUGIMURA W x- 78mm a ATTORNEYS RECORDING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A TAXIMETER This invention relates to a taximeter, and more particularly to an apparatus to be used with a taximeter for converting into electrical signals the number of times which basic taxi fares have been paid by passengers, turns of additional fares paid by passengers in accordance with running distances over an initial distance for which the basic taxi fare is to be paid, number of times which a taxicab has been hired by passengers, running distance for which a cab has run with the passengers and total running distance 'of the cab, all of which are to be sensed by the taximeter as mechanical movements thereof, and for recording such amounts and numbers as mentioned above and converted into electrical signals onto a tape which could be mounted onto a tabulator for counting up the total amount of taxi fares paid by the passengers, proceeds for an unit of running distance, working ratio of cab and so on.

Most conventionally a taximeter is provided with devices for indicating to a passenger taxi fares to be paid by him and mechanisms for integrating proceeds, working ratio of cab under running and other figures and for letting a driver of cab known of these figures.

However, it is most inconvenient for drivers of taxi and as well for companies managing taxicabs that a conventional taximeter of the kind is not provided with devices and mechanism which can record other data which can fully show the running and operating conditions of cabs, and hence the drivers have to manually record into their driving reports other data such as turns of passengers, fares for each passenger, distance of loading of each passengers and the like which are not recordable by a conventional taximeter. In addition, it becomes nearly impossible, due to the recent heavy traffic-jam, for taxi drivers to check and write down the locations where passengers got in and off cabs and the corresponding driving distances and fares, at each time when the passengers got off cabs. Drivers have to inevitably write down these figures and informations so far as they can remember, when they become rather free, resulting in making their reports incorrect. There could be no worse misfortune that it sometimes induces a traffic accident to write down these informations during driving. It is, therefore, a matter of course that there is a noticeable difference between the actual proceeds and the amount of proceeds written down by drivers on reports, and they have to make both ends thereof meet,

with much difficulties. Such proceeds and reports are usually rechecked by a person other than the drivers and are posted in an accounting book. Under the circumstances, it shall be noted that falsity of accounts is often invited since drivers collect fares and at the same time write down reports for the corresponding fares, and that it is uneconomical to have the reports rechecked.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to be used with a taximeter, which is free from such drawbacks as mentioned above and which can positively record or memorize proceeds of taxi fares, ratio of working of taxicabs and so on.

In the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated;

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the present invention apparatus used in combination with a taximeter,

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram showing principal parts of circuits adapted in the apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a transmitter of the apparatus,

FIG 4 is a perspective view of a signal receiving device in the present invention apparatus, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tape recorded in accordance with the present invention.

Now, referring to the drawing, and especially with reference to FIG. 1 thereof, numeral 1 indicates a transmitter which transmits signals, in cooperation with the operation or movement of a taximeter, for actuating a recording or memorizing device of the present invention apparatus. Signals transmitted by the transmitter 1 is sent through a cable 2 which is made rigid so that drivers can not operate it with malicious intent, to

a sealed wiring box 3 which is connected to a signal receiving device 4 which is locked, for example, by a lock 4'.

The wiring of the devices mentioned above is illustrated in FIG. 2 To wit, a switching circuit 5 of the transmitter 1 comprises reed switches 8 and magnets 9 mounted to specific movable parts of the taximeter. Numeral 10 indicates an arc extinguishing circuit ends of which are respectively connected to the terminals of the reed switch for suppressing the arc to be produced in the switching circuit and for prolonging the life of reed switches 8. Numeral 6 indicates the wiring of joints accommodated within the sealed wiring box 3. Circuits 7 of the signal receiving device 4 comprises electromagnetic coils 11 which are brought to ON- position for operating a memorizing device, detailed explanation of which shall be given in the following,

when the reed switch 8 is operated with the actuating of magnet 9.

In FIG. 3, there is illustrated mechanisms provided to the taximeter so as to actuate the magnets 9. The signals which will accomplish the object of the present invention apparatus are those transmitting the number of times hired by passengers, distance for which a cab has run with passengers, total running distance with or without passengers and number of additional fares paid by passengers over an initial distance.

The first-mentioned signal is transmitted by turning on a contact 14 by means of rotating a cam 13 fixedly mounted to an axis 12 which is connected to an operating lever projecting outwardly from the taximeter and which is rotatable by the operation of said lever each time when the cab ishired.

The second and third-mentioned signals are obtainable by means of a first axis 15 provided within the taximeter so as to be rotatable in proportion to the rotary moment transmitted to said axis in accordance with the running of the cab through a speed indicator cable and gear box for adjusting a running distance, not shown. The rotary moment transmitted to the first axis 15 is transmitted further to gears 16, l7, 18, 19 and 20. To the gear 20, one rotation of which corresponds to a predetermined running distance such as m or 1,000 m, there is mounted a magnet 21 which actuates a reed switch 22 every 100 m or 1,000 m and transmits corresponding signals. The rotary movement of the gear 20 is, in addition, transmitted to a counter 24 by means of a connecting lever 23, whereby a reed switch 26 is actuated by a magnet 25 carried by the counter.

The fourth signal is obtainable by means of a clutch gear 27, to which the rotary moment transmitted to the first axis 15 is further transmitted by means of a train of gears. When a cam 28 for additional fare indicating mechanisms is rotated to a single full revolution, an actuating lever 29 and actuating pawl 30 operates so as to forward a ratchet wheel 31, resulting in advancing a fare indicating drum. A magnet 32 is mounted on said actuating lever 29 which closes a reed switch 33 in response to the actuation thereof.

in the signal receiving device mentioned in the above and explanatorily illustrated in FIG. 4, the signals transmitted by the transmitter l are received by electromagnetic coils 34, whereby solenoids thereof are energized or magnetized, and perforator 45 or iron core magnetized by the solenoids does make either perforation or magnetic recording onto a mechanical or magnetic recording tape 44. which is fed upon a guide 35. Numeral 36 indicates a holder for the tape. Said tape 44 is intermittently forwarded by means of a pawl 39 which is actuated, each time when the electromagnetic coils and perforator have effected their actuation, to rotate a ratchet wheel 41d one tooth by one, resulting in forwarding the tape to a distance corresponding to the rotation of wheel and making it ready to be subjected to the next recording. Detent pawl 41 works to prevent the tape from moving forward before the operation of next perforation by the perforator 45. The tape might be fed forward in accordance with the passing of time, when desired. A spool 38 for winding the tape thereonto from another spool 37 could readily be set onto the device by a joining part 42 provided to the ratchet wheel. Posts 43 are provided for guiding the tape.

The tape which has been recorded by the present invention apparatus, carries four kinds of information, viz, the aforementioned number of times by which the cab has been hired by passengers A, number of times by which additional fares have been paid by passengers D, running distance (Km) for which the cab has run with passengers thereon G and total running distance (Km) of the cab J.

From the above information, following figures are obtainable when the tape recorded with the information is mounted to a calculator which is specifically designed for the calculation of the tape of the present kind.

A XB (basic fare)=C (total proceeds of basic fare) D E (additional fare)=F (total proceeds of additional fare) (JXH (100 m or 1 Km)=1 (working distance) J XK (100 m or 1 Krn)=L (total running distance) The amounts represented by the letters 13, E, H and K are those predetermined by companies or governments and constant. Hence, when the constant amounts of said B, E, H and K were preliminarily set in the calculator, the above calculation could easily be made simply by reading, through the calculator, the number of perforations for the B, E, H and K on the tape 44.

The sum obtained in the above equations could further be utilized for various other purposes. For example, following figures are easily obtainable.

C F M total proceeds per day M 1 L N proceeds per Km l L O working ratio it shall be understood from the foregoing explanation that the present invention apparatus can positively accomplish the object mentioned in the foregoing.

According to another embodiment of the invention the. tape 44 is magnetic and the magnetic coils 34 form extensions 45 that operate as magnetic recording heads for recording the information on the tape 44.

What is claimed is;

1. An apparatus for making a continuous record of the operation of a vehicle upon a medium, comprising mechanical means coupled to the vehicle and responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a plurality of mechanical signals, said mechanical means including manually actuable use-denoting means for producing a first mechanical signal each time an operator actuates the denoting means, said mechanical means including first operating means coupled to said denoting means and responsive to the operation of the passenger vehicle for producing a second signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance when the denoting means has been actuated, said mechanical means including second operating means responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a third mechanical signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance regardless of the operation of said denoting means, a mechanical mechanism in the meter responsive to said denoting means and said operating means, visible data-indicating means coupled to said mechanical mechanism and responsive to the operation of said mechanical mechanism for indicating data responsive to at least one of the signals, a plurality of transducer means in the meter and responsive to said denoting means and said operating means for producing electrical signals corresponding to the mechanical signals, transmitting means responsive to said transducer means for transmitting the electrical signals, signal receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals, and signal storing means forming a part of said receiving means for recording the electrical signals upon a strip-like recording medium.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the medium is strip-like and said storing means includes advancing means for advancing the strip-like medium so that said signals can be stored thereon.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said storing means includes a plurality of perforators for perforating the medium, said perforators each responding to the transmitted electric signals.

4. An apparatus as in claim ll, wherein said medium is magnetic tape and said storing means includes a plurality of heads for magnetically storing the transmitted signals.

5. An apparatus for recording the operation of a passenger vehicle upon a medium, comprising mechanical means responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a plurality of mechanical signals, said mechanical means including manually actuable passenger denoting means responsive to operation by an. operator for producing a first mechanical signal each time the denoting means is operated by an operator when a passenger enters the vehicle, said mechanical means including first operating means coupled to said denoting means and responsive to operation of said vehicle for producing a second signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance while said denoting means is actuated as indication of the presence of a passenger, said mechanical means including second operating means responsive to operation of the vehicle for pro ducing a third mechanical signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance with or without a pasfor transmitting the first and second and third electrical signals along separate channels, signal-receiving means remote from said meter and responsive to said transmitted electrical signals, and signal-storing means forming a part of said receiving means for recording the electrical signals on the medium, said signal-storing means including a separate activator channel. 

1. An apparatus for making a continuous record of the operation of a vehicle upon a medium, comprising mechanical means coupled to the vehicle and responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a plurality of mechanical signAls, said mechanical means including manually actuable use-denoting means for producing a first mechanical signal each time an operator actuates the denoting means, said mechanical means including first operating means coupled to said denoting means and responsive to the operation of the passenger vehicle for producing a second signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance when the denoting means has been actuated, said mechanical means including second operating means responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a third mechanical signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance regardless of the operation of said denoting means, a mechanical mechanism in the meter responsive to said denoting means and said operating means, visible data-indicating means coupled to said mechanical mechanism and responsive to the operation of said mechanical mechanism for indicating data responsive to at least one of the signals, a plurality of transducer means in the meter and responsive to said denoting means and said operating means for producing electrical signals corresponding to the mechanical signals, transmitting means responsive to said transducer means for transmitting the electrical signals, signal receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals, and signal storing means forming a part of said receiving means for recording the electrical signals upon a strip-like recording medium.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the medium is strip-like and said storing means includes advancing means for advancing the strip-like medium so that said signals can be stored thereon.
 3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said storing means includes a plurality of perforators for perforating the medium, said perforators each responding to the transmitted electric signals.
 4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said medium is magnetic tape and said storing means includes a plurality of heads for magnetically storing the transmitted signals.
 5. An apparatus for recording the operation of a passenger vehicle upon a medium, comprising mechanical means responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a plurality of mechanical signals, said mechanical means including manually actuable passenger-denoting means responsive to operation by an operator for producing a first mechanical signal each time the denoting means is operated by an operator when a passenger enters the vehicle, said mechanical means including first operating means coupled to said denoting means and responsive to operation of said vehicle for producing a second signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance while said denoting means is actuated as indication of the presence of a passenger, said mechanical means including second operating means responsive to operation of the vehicle for producing a third mechanical signal each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance with or without a passenger, visible data-indicating means coupled to at least one of said denoting means and said operating means for indicating data representative of at least one of the signals, said mechanical means and said data-indicating means forming a meter, transducer means in said meter coupled to said denoting means and said operating means for producing electrical signals corresponding to said mechanical signals, transmitting means having a plurality of channels coupled to said transducer means for transmitting the first and second and third electrical signals along separate channels, signal-receiving means remote from said meter and responsive to said transmitted electrical signals, and signal-storing means forming a part of said receiving means for recording the electrical signals on the medium, said signal-storing means including a separate activator channel. 